If it is, you'll know that feeling of dread as you look at how much it is going to cost this year.

But did you know that car insurance companies have a few tools of the trade that they use to achieve the highest quotes?

They know, for instance, that people living in places with more car crime or who have more expensive cars will pay more, writes the Birmingham Mail.

But car insurance providers don't have to have to have it all their own way.

Here's why - and some tips to getting a cheaper quote:

Be honest about your occupation

If you describe yourself as a “chef” when filling in your car insurance application your average quote is £98 higher than if you write “kitchen staff” GoCompare found – and it’s not just cooks that have this problem.

“Music teachers” pay £86 more than “teachers”, “office managers” pay more than “office administrators”, and “construction workers” pay more than “builders” who – in turn – pay more than “bricklayers”.